Tag: education

In The Mirror, like most of my stories, takes place in my wonderful hometown of Baltimore. So I’m going to share Batlimore through the eyes of Jasmine, the main character of In The Mirror. So hang out with Jasmine as she takes you on a tour around the city and shows you a Baltimore few people see.

This video blog is about a bookstore that is near and dear to my heart. It’s called Everyone’s Place. I discovered it in my twenties and have been going there ever since. Watch and you’ll understand why this bookstore is so important to the community.

I’m so excited! Michael and I just finished editing the intro to This Is Baltimore, Too. And yesterday I finished shooting the footage for my first mini documentary on Etosha Bakari. Stay tuned for that this week. I can’t wait for you all to see it. Etosha is a wonderful woman and she will inspire you to keep doing your best. See you soon on This Is Baltimore, Too where we show you what’s good in your Baltimore neighborhood.

For years I’ve been trying to figure out a way to do something meaningful and fun on my website. I’m not the type of person to write just for the sake of writing, so blogging was very difficult for me. Even though I love writing, I don’t want to write about writing everyday. Even though I love reading, I don’t want to write about every book I’ve ever read. What I do love doing is talking about the positive things other people are doing. This Is Baltimore, Too allows me to blog everyday about the wonderful people and things that don’t get recognized.

Since launching this page, I’ve shot so much footage that I don’t have enough time in the day to upload it. I’m not complaining. This is a great thing. I feel so much better knowing that I’m doing something to help make this world a little better.

What can I say about Coppin? Well, I can say that my Alma Mater did it up for me again. When Water In A Broken Glass was published back in 2000, my professors gave me not one but two booksignings. On Tuesday, November 8th, my professors gave me not one but two booksignings again. And the support was just as wonderful.

Tara Turn from the alumni association put the signing in the electronic newsletter. And the next thing I know, I’m getting hits from everyone who saw it. LaTrice Curtis and Karen Drake who work and attend Coppin contacted me and come out to support.

Professor Ann Cobb and Dr. Cataliotti, who taught me how to read and write about litature organized the signing for me. They were so proud of me, but I am honored to have been in their classes, because I wouldn’t write the way I do if they didn’t teach me about Toni Morrison, Alice Walker, James Baldwin, Paul Lawrence Dunbar, Toni Cade Bambara, Paule Marshall, Octavia Butler, Richard Wright and Zora Neale Hurston. They sparked something in me that I didn’t know was there. Even though I’ve wanted to be a writer since I was 9, I didn’t believe I had what it takes. They, along with so many other great professors at Coppin, pushed me until I decided to give it a try. That’s when I wrote Water.

Some people believe Coppin is a low rate school. I believe Coppin is as great a school as you want it to be. You have to be willing to work. No one is going to just give you anything. That’s one of the great things I learned while attending Coppin. And it is because of this that I was able to do well at the University of Maryland College Park. Professor Cobb, Dr. Catalliotti, Professor Collins, Professor Courts didn’t cut me any slack. So when I got to Maryland I was ready to step my academic game up some more.

I will always love Coppin and the professors for helping me write the way I do.